Longridge paralympic hopeful is handpicked for camp

A Paralympic hopeful has been chosen to learn from the best at a prestigious sports camp event.

Millie Forrest, from Longridge, was hand-picked to attend the Youth Sport Trust National Talent Camp at Loughborough University this weekend, which will see 350 young athletes, coaches and officials put through their paces in their bid to achieve glory at future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson

The 18-year-old, who won gold in the shot put for athletes with cerebral palsy at the IWAS World Junior Games in August, said she is most looking forward to meeting hero, Olympic heptathlete star Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

She said: “I’m going to be doing a masterclass with Katarina that I’m really looking forward to but I don’t really know what to expect from the weekend.

“It will just be great to meet the other athletes and seeing how they train and furthering my athletics experience.”

Millie, who suffers from cerebal palsy, has been competing in the shotput and discuss competitions for the past four years and was inspired to take up athletics after watching the last Paralympic Games.

She said: “I went to an event at Sports City in Manchester and tried a couple of events, including running and the long jump.

“I couldn’t really do the long distance running as I tired quickly due to my disability so when I tried the shotput and discuss the people who were running the event said they could see some potential and told me to stick to it.”

Edge Hill student, Millie, was chosen to represent Team GB at this year’s World Junior Games and said receiving her international vest was one of her proudest moments.

She said: “When my kit arrived it was just overwhelming.

And Millie adds that people shouldn’t dismiss the ability of disabled people in sport.

She said: “Over the years I have seen so many people with disabilities overcome many obstacles, especially in the world of athletics.

“I would just say to people with disabilities who are keen to get into sport to just give it a go because you never know what you’ll be good at.”

Millie will also be joined other teens including Alexander Reed and Sarah Gregson from Preston.

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